The Author

Rev. Bill Bowdoin was born and raised in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State. He was born on July 4, 1950, in Penn Yan, New York, and was raised in the farm country in the Bradford, New York area. At an early age he bought the American Dream of becoming rich, and it became his life's goal. In November of 1963 he nearly died from a ruptured appendix that was not operated on for two weeks because of his stubbornness.

Bill knew God spared his life in answer to many prayers, but for three years tried to ignore it and go his own way. He was convicted by Matthew 16:26, "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" This verse caused him to change his viewpoint on life, and he accepted Christ as his Savior on February 19, 1967.

On February 18, 1968, at the age of seventeen, he started preaching and giving his testimony in his home area. Due to his father's illness, he worked on construction and did farm work while finishing high school to help support his parents and two sisters.

From 1969- 1972, while a student at a Christian college, he preached extensively in rescue missions, jails, churches, open air meetings, and crusades. He also directed an inner-city project which involved as many as 100-150 fellow students. Bill not only directed the project, but also worked personally trying to reach street gang members. During this time, God spared his life on several occasions, and these are the events upon which the plays are based. Following these events and his graduation, he traveled across the US and Canada preaching and also sharing these experiences. On August 24, 1972, Bill was ordained at Bradford Baptist Church in Bradford, New York.

Bill married Joyce Stone in Horseheads, New York, on August 17, 1974. The daughter of Pastor Bruce and Dorothy Stone, Joyce was raised in Vermont and Maine. She has taught in several Christian schools and is presently teaching at Corning Christian Academy in Corning, New York, where their four daughters attended and graduated.

If you have questions for the author, you can email him at billonthehill4@hotmail.com.

What sparked the writing project?